Stormers’ duty to the nation

2011-03-09 09:34

Rob Houwing

They are marvelling at the sheer audacity and guts of it back in New Zealand ... whilst still pinching themselves to believe it actually happened.

I refer to the unfashionable Highlanders’ achievement of Mission Impossible last weekend: knocking over defending Super Rugby champions the Bulls in their own Loftus backyard, so extending their early-season charge to three wins from three and second place on the overall log only on a “for and against” basis from the Sharks.

Seasoned scribe Wynne Gray of the New Zealand Herald, for instance, rightly lauded the Otago side for their unwavering spirit and attitude, whilst virtually simultaneously making the point that they are a team “with a solitary senior All Black, Jimmy Cowan, and other bit-part internationals Adam Thomson, Tom Donnelly, Jamie Mackintosh and Ben Smith”.

Few in South Africa would have begrudged them their 35-28 victory, either, even if the mostly lethargic and robotic Bulls so nearly scrambled a draw.

I’d immediately spotted it on television in my own living room, after all, when inspirational loosehead prop Mackintosh got away with cheekily slapping the ball out of Fourie du Preez’s grasp at a ruck beneath the Highlanders’ posts as the home side sought a levelling seven-pointer at the death.

Gray, incidentally, branded it “a Hand of God incident, one to rival Diego Maradona or Thierry Henry’s hand-headers” and noted that referee Stuart Dickinson (an old South African less-than-favourite, of course) had experienced a “vision malfunction”.

But let’s not kid ourselves at the foot of Africa: the Highlanders were fantastic value for the score-line, positive in intent and execution to accompany their courage, and most in the stunned Pretoria crowd would have known it.

And that’s the really worrying thing from a broad South African perspective.

Because if the Highlanders, lacking most of New Zealand’s truest rugby superstars who remain embedded with such outfits as the Crusaders and Hurricanes, continue on their presently merry way by also knocking over the second best team in the Super 14 last year – the Stormers – under lights at Newlands on Friday, what signal is that sending out about our country’s health in the admittedly fledgling stages of a World Cup year?

So this is not just a mouth-watering meeting of two unbeaten teams: it is a key opportunity for the Stormers to find some missing spark – one pushover try in two narrowly-won home derbies is a very poor return for this traditionally attack-conscious outfit – but also allay fears that, the Sharks apart, South African rugby is looking a little too stale and leaden-footed right now.

Personally, while full of admiration for the way Jamie Joseph has got the Highlanders’ heart ticking, I still fancy that a “correction” will gradually take place and their runaway start be arrested.

For the record, straight after they tackle the Stormers they return home to entertain the Crusaders ahead of a bye.

There must remain a pretty good chance, with respect, that they will lose both and thus the present hype around them quickly become more muted, especially as the slog goes on and injuries particularly test the depth of smaller-stocked franchises.

I made the point last Saturday night that the Highlanders, who finished a lowly 12th in the 2010 Super 14 with three wins from their 13 games, haven’t exactly invested in a galaxy of household names from elsewhere in the interim.

Indeed, they will probably start on Friday with some eight or nine of the same players who turned out at Newlands last year, when the Stormers clinically shut them out 33-0 on March 6 and also registered a bonus-point try via Bryan Habana in the 79th minute for the proverbial cherry on top.

So if the Highlanders, this time, somehow manage to run rings around the Stormers, always lauded for their defensive structure and ability, and whoop it up in victory abroad once more, South African rugby will be looking just a bit shaky, don’t you think?

The home outfit not only prevailing, but doing so with a pinch of pizzazz, would be a timely development.

For if you remove the purposeful, smooth-functioning Sharks from the equation, the remainder of the South African sides have thus far been serving up a brand of rugby not far short of cold cabbage soup.

And that needs to change fast, if sceptical rugby fans across the land are to be persuaded that the dramatic expansion of the competition has actually been a good thing ...

Rob Houwing is Sport24’s chief writer

Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.

Sport24

Comments

sessisie - 2011-03-09 10:53

This result was already on the books, and a long time coming if one compares the trajectories of the Bulls and Highlanders since last season.

Rob - 2011-03-09 11:01

Stormers will lose

Stompies - 2011-03-09 11:02

Hell Rob, why take such a wide detour to tell us that your favorite team will be the all time heroes?
I sincerely hope for your (supporters) sake that the stormers also wake up before this weekend.

SUPER C - 2011-03-09 11:06

A lesson I've learned last year is that one cannot judge what the national team will be like on the field based on the Super rugby series. Look at how the AB's ruined everything in their path that after a somewhat average Super 14...

RJ - 2011-03-09 11:53

Exactly

Alwyn - 2011-03-09 11:15

Stormers suck,,,Big time!!!!!!!

Pappa Smurf - 2011-03-09 11:25

Highlanders by 8. Stormers suck!!!!!

zabber - 2011-03-09 11:54

STORMERS SUCK ERG

RJ - 2011-03-09 11:54

Suckers.... What all do U2 suck.

Rob - 2011-03-09 12:15

They suck i agree!

Alwyn - 2011-03-09 12:20

@RJ I wouldnt know,i have not been to the U2 concert Maybe they suck on lollies ,and it just proves you also suck!!!!!!!!!!

Balsakhater - 2011-03-09 12:41

Remember there black and red outfits with the SS - representing the so-called Storm Troopers like in the second world war - How fitting now - SS = Stormers Suck. Hahahaha. Go Bulls.

@Alpyn...if I put up a true pic of myself, it would just make your life more miserable, once you see what you could never have....so don't protest 2 much, I'm being cruel to be kind....

Rugbybrain - 2011-03-09 12:46

Bulls are the cabbage in the soup

Mumford - 2011-03-09 14:14

Great game on Saturday Blue Bulls!!!!!!!! S.T.O.R.M.E.R.S

Pappa Smurf - 2011-03-09 15:39

Yes, I wish we were the Choice cup champions like you.

dushaas - 2011-03-10 11:32

you probably wish you could also play rugby like the Stormers! Go play on Bluebuddies.com, mama smurf

Pappa Smurf - 2011-03-10 12:17

Yes dushaas, no cups for 10 years!!!!!

Weepee - 2011-03-09 14:31

I always wonder why the boneheads up north comment in afrikaans on an english news site!! Do they google "Stormers" a few times a day so they can any attack journo's who mentions the "Stormers" word. It's bizarre man!!
GO THE STORMERS!

SAFFA-CAT - 2011-03-09 14:40

These freaks spend the ENTIRE day on the net mate, searching for any article Re: The Stormers. They are OBSESSED with us, and they are 2 frikkin mentally stunted to fess up to their addiction. It isn't healthy - but hey, it keeps them from moering their wives, so I guess we can live with it...

Mumford - 2011-03-09 14:53

Whats that you say Staalpaal??

SAFFA-CAT - 2011-03-09 15:28

@Staal, solank jy vir die DA stem, is jy welkom in die Kaap....

SAFFA-CAT - 2011-03-09 14:36

The Stormers owe the nation nothing....The nation owes us.....

Mumford - 2011-03-09 14:48

agreed! Now those Blue Bull supporters go show your wives how long you can balance a can of Castle on your boeps!!!

Alwyn - 2011-03-09 15:08

@Mumford,,,, must say your wife was quite impressed when i showed her the Castle on the boep trick,

SAFFA-CAT - 2011-03-09 15:27

@Mumford - have you seen some of the wives from the laager? They could balance Makro shopping trolleys on their frikkin tum tums....

Mumford - 2011-03-09 15:56

@alwyn..While you were showing my wife you hippo stomach i was playing"roll over , roll over" with your wife!

gooinat - 2011-03-09 15:27

I've got this sick picture of three dumb dutchmen(sorry to the afrikaans stormers supporters)Pappa Smurf,Alwyn en Johnny singing to each other Liefling as hulle dik gesyp is and busy getting it on with each other,sick freaks...........

@Alpyn, yes, lets chat rugby. The Bulls lost. They played like a special needs school...with the Frankenstein tard Spies dribbling and drooling whilst WYNnie Strydom sat clapping. The crowds were less than 'impressive', with more freaks than a Southern Carnival (bearded ladies, fat kids, etc). The highlight of the game for me, was the final whistle.

Mumford - 2011-03-09 16:48

I think Spies must retire.Built well but falls over like a girl.Has not got that toughness like Louw,Burger and Van Muerlan

@stormer4eva - Ek try lankal nie meer nie....one must treat them in the only manner their "tribe" understands. If that includes cheap insults, common language and a few tappit moves - so be it. It is rather cool lowering oneself to their level.

@Cliff - Yes, I am the artist previously known as STORMER, and I will soon be changing my name to a symbol, like * (cos it's easier for the Bulls Tards to read...)

Shistirrer - 2011-03-10 12:21

Hey Saffa, I think it will be great if you change to a symbol *.
A word of warning though: That symbol (*) looks a lot like a cat's asshole, and some of these Bulls Tards have admitted they will go for ANYTHING.

art.works - 2011-03-09 21:56

Hey Pappa Smurf, can you negotiate, 8.00 ZAR = 1.16511 USD

Abrie - 2011-03-10 04:09

Can someone please explain why the Stormers have 12 log points from only 2 games played and won and a bye in the 1st round?
abrievw@gmail.com (Abrie van Wyk)

gooinat - 2011-03-10 07:20

Abrie,if a team has a bye they get 4 points,thats why the Bulls are hoping to get more Byes as this is the only time they get points....

Sandile van Heerden - 2011-03-10 12:10

Super Rugby results count for nothing at the World Cup!
If it did South Africa should have dominated world rugby last year after having two teams in the final.